Lots of Videos! (Plus Camping and Underpants)

Well, it seems like a good idea to write a final all-Phoebe post before we’re ready to introduce the Noodle, whoever he or she is! The Noodle has been in a breech position for many weeks and shows no inclination to turn, despite everything I’ve been doing to try to encourage it. I’ve tried yoga positions, lying upside down on an ironing board, doing somersaults and headstands in the pool, chiropractic work, and moxibustion (an acupuncture technique that includes burning your pinkie toes with mugwort sticks). Last week I had an external cephalic version, in which a midwife and a doctor tried to turn the baby from the outside. It was—as they told me it would be—intense. My labor breathing techniques and squeezing Dave’s hand made it bearable. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. This baby is comfortable where it is! In the end, I’m scheduled for a c-section on Wednesday, September 26. So stay tuned for news of the Noodle.

Beginning in mid-August:

Phoebe has been learning to use the potty. Her daycare sent home some paperwork to teach us how to potty train her…it’s a program that they’ve found effective. For one month, she counted down to “potty day” by putting one sticker per day on a calendar. Here’s a mid-August picture of her on the grownup potty.

Here’s a great video of Phoebe reading Tomie dePaola’s illustrated nursery rhymes.

On August 25, Phoebe’s daycare had a big party to celebrate the opening of their new building (which has been open for more than two years). We had a great time! Phoebe got to jump in her first jump castle. Once we found the one for little kids, she wasn’t shy at all. I think she could’ve jumped all day! She even showed her friend Fritz how to handle it.

This is what sometimes happens when you get brave and fast on the playground.

I usually have a work conference over the Labor Day weekend. This year it was supposed to be in New Orleans, and Dave and Phoebe were planning to come along. To make a long story short, we were going to drive. Then we decided (with some advice from the midwives’ nurse) to fly instead. Then it became apparent that Hurricane Isaac was going to blow through New Orleans that weekend. My company finally decided not to go, and later that day, the conference was canceled. It was a stressful week as we tried to determine what was happening!

The upside, though, is that we were able to spend our Labor Day weekend (and our 12th anniversary) camping. We went to the Angel of Shavano Campground, which doesn’t take reservations. It’s halfway between Salida and Buena Vista, out to the southwest. We left work a bit early on Friday and found a great campsite. Phoebe was so excited…she’d been wanting to camp for weeks!

On Saturday, we went to the playground in Salida, then back to the campground, then back into Salida to the swimming pool. A perfect day for Phoebe! I, on the other hand, was exhausted after all that activity. On Sunday, we went back to Salida to a picnic in the park with a big band playing. Here are a few photos from the weekend:

There was a white squirrel hanging around our campsite. I’ve never seen one before!

Poor Phoebe…but she’s a good sport about my interviews.

Early September: When Dave isn’t home for dinner, Phoebe and I can eat stuff he doesn’t like. Here we’re having roasted eggplant and tomatoes, steamed spinach, and garbanzo beans on rice noodles.

Dad, this video is for you!

September 12 was the big day!! Phoebe picked out a pair of Thomas the Train underpants to wear. She did a pretty good job at school, though she didn’t want to come in from the playground to go potty. We’re still working hard on potty training, and Phoebe loves to wear underpants.

I remember a video like this in which Phoebe needed a lot of help climbing up!

Here’s the Noodle at 37 weeks.

I’ll leave you with a couple of videos of Phoebe playing the piano at church.